Meet the homebound DJs tipped to perform at Tomorrowland 2021

Tomorrowland may not be going ahead this year, but in just over 24 hours, we’ll have found out the latest addition to the 2021 lineup! Thanks to ‘The Sound of Tomorrow’ – a DJ talent search – up and coming talent from across Europe are being given a huge platform to share their musical flair with the world.

From thousands of entries, to a final four, Fedde Le Grand, Pepsi MAX and Tomorrowland are one step closer to crowning this year’s ‘The Sound of Tomorrow’. Joined by Dimitri Vegas and the Nervo sisters, the four finalists will come together to compete in an intense DJ battle hosted on Tuesday, July 7th at 4pm CET/3pm BST across Tomorrowland’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitch channels, bringing big festival performance energy to homes across Europe.

So who are the chosen four? The finalists are Angie Mill from Enschede, Netherlands, DJ Matti from Skei, Norway, Jil Tanner from Berlin, Germany and Rikki from Gipuzkoa, Spain. Each one has a truly individual style, while still embodying the spirit of The People of Tomorrow.

Performing from their homes, these up and coming DJs have the opportunity of a lifetime to perform at next year’s Tomorrowland and release an official remix through Fedde Le Grand’s Darklight Records. Join them on the live stream, vote for your favourite, and you’ll be in with a chance of winning tickets to Tomorrowland’s Around The World digital festival.

We caught up with each of the finalists ahead of their life changing performance tomorrow night.

Check out their mixes to help make your mind up ahead of tuning in.

Tell us about your creative process for your entry?

I listened to last years contesters and found out that a lot of mixes with many likes and shares had a dope intro. So I decided to start my mixes with an awesome intro as well. This suits me perfectly, because I absolutely love the orchestral sound in future (house) music. For the rest I only choose music that I really love and started building my mix. I find it important to deliver a mix with music that the public does not know yet, but also like to include some famous tunes so people can sing along. I like to sing as well, but I am really bad at it haha.

Who are your greatest musical inspirations?

I have a couple, but one the biggest is Freddie Mercury (leadsinger of Queen). His voice is out of this world and I am really sad I never had the chance to see him live. Oliver Heldens is another inspiration; he has a unique bassline sound that he uses in every track. Also, he acts a bit nerdy and I love that. It shows how he just likes to enjoy himself while acting crazy. The last one is Don Diablo. He seems to be very down to earth and can make like every type of music. For me he is one of the future house music pioneers.

What was your inspiration behind entering The Sound of Tomorrow 2020?

I’ve been a fan and follower of Tomorrowland ever since seeing the 2012 after-movie all those years ago. In 2019 I finally visited the festival and I was blown away – especially by the magical vibes out in the sun. My inspiration behind entering the contest was to spread good vibes with some new fresh disco, house and funk sound – and to create everlasting good memories for people to remember!

What would it mean to you to perform at Tomorrowland next year?

To say it will mean a lot for me is an understatement. For an up and coming DJ like me, playing at one of the biggest electronic music festivals would be a dream come true. It will certainly open loads of doors that were previously closed for me. Since I have been a fan of this festival for so long, I don’t think I can find words for what it would feel like performing live at Tomorrowland!

What would it mean to you to perform at Tomorrowland 2021?

That would mean a lot to me. It would be a big step further into my music career and wouldopen some more opportunities getting noticed and playing more shows to share my unbreakable passion for the music with the people

Who are your greatest musical inspirations and if you could go back to back with on DJ, who would it be?

Oh there are a few...from techno to house straight to old-school hip hop, soul and jazz ... the list would be too long! To perform with? Carl Cox (love his energy and vibes). My all time favourite track is Moby - Natural Blues (Coyu Remix)

How are you going to approach your live DJ set?

With a big anticipation to share my favorite tracks and hopefully getting lost in music together with the audience, even if it’s on the screen.

What was the creative process for coming up with your mix?

Whenever I prepare a mix I try to introduce what I call the “happy songs” and the “boom songs”. The “happy songs” are those that everyone can sing and that help create the feeling of unity in the crowd, whereas the “boom songs” are those that have an epic build up with a powerful drop. I always try to have both of them in my sets, as that’s what I like most when I’m in the crowd

Give us one interesting fact about yourself?

I started playing the trumpet when I was a kid and that my brother gave me the chance to change my instrument with a DJ controller because he bought one and didn’t know how to use it! Even if electronic music is the one I love most, classical music has had a big influence in me and I’m so happy to have grown up being surrounded by all types of music.